Device and Method for Removing the Core of a Plant

ABSTRACT

A device and method for removing the core of a plant. This device consists of a tubular part which does not form a completely round circle, but only extends over approximately 180° (i.e. semi-circular arch). This tubular part is provided with a cutting section at one free end, thus making it possible to remove a core part of a plant. On the opposite end, the device is provided with a cutting section which does form a complete continuous circle, thus making it possible to remove an entire core of a plant such as lettuce.

The present invention relates to a device for removing the core of aplant, comprising a tubular part which is provided with an approximatelycircular cutting section at one free end and a handle section at theother free end.

A device of this type is known from EP 91202833.3 in the name of VacuProducts B.V. and is designed for cutting, for example, a pineapple.Therein the cutting section consists of a serrating extending in acontinuous circle and being forced through the core material of thepineapple.

In general, the core of such plants will be removed shortly beforeconsumption. However, there are instances where the user does not intendto eat the entire product. In such a case, once the core part has beenremoved, an amount of product remains which is not eaten immediately andwhich has had its core part removed, resulting in a rapid decline in thequality of a product of this type.

It is an object of the present invention to prevent this drawback.

This object is achieved with a device described above in that thetubular part is provided with a lateral opening which extends up to thecutting section which comprises a part of a ring.

According to the present invention, the cutting section does not form acontinuous circle, but only a partial circle and more particularly asemicircle. This means that when the user inserts the cutting sectioninto the crop, he can separate part of the core of the crop. This thenresults in a part in which the cutting section has not cut and a part inwhich the cutting section has cut. In the first part, for example inhalf of the plant, the core is then still present and this part can bestored in such a manner that it remains fresh for as long as possible.The other part into which the cutting section has cut no longer has acore (half core) since the latter falls apart when the plant or crop isseparated.

A device of this type can be used with all kinds of plants which have acore.

The use with lettuce, cucumbers, spinach and sweet peppers constitutes aspecific application. It will be understood that the radius of thecircle forming the cutting section will be designed in accordance withthe “average” diameter of the core which is to be removed. Ifappropriate, the cutting section is not exactly circular in design.

In connection with the use with lettuce, a value of 20-30 mm and moreparticularly of approximately 25 mm is mentioned.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the handle section alsoconsists of a further cutting section. Unlike the abovementioned cuttingsection, this further cutting section is indeed designed as a completecontinuous circle, thus making it possible to remove a complete corefrom a plant. That is to say that it is possible to remove the completecore or only part of the core from a plant, as circumstances require.

It will be understood that the first-mentioned cutting section can serveas a handle for the further cutting section. In order to enable optimumhandling, the centre axes of the cutting section and further cuttingsection are at an angle of approximately 90-160°, and more particularlyapproximately 135°, to one another.

Cutting can be carried out in any manner known from the prior art, butis preferably effected by providing the respective cutting section withteeth. Depending on the hardness of the plant, the device may be made ofplastic or, if required, of metal.

The present invention also relates to a method for removing the core ofa plant, comprising placing the plant on a carrier, inserting thecutting section of the device as described above and separating theplant after the cut core part has been removed.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference toan exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of the device accordingto the invention;

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b show a first application of the device according to theinvention; and

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b show a second application of the invention.

In the figures, the device according to the invention is denoted overallby reference numeral 1. It consists of a tubular part 2 which isprovided with an opening 8. That is to say that the tubular part onlyextends over a limited part of the circular arch, in the present exampleapproximately 180°. It will be understood that both higher and lowervalues are possible. The one end of the tubular part is provided with acutting section 4 with teeth 6. The other end comprises a furthertubular part 3 which is provided at its end with a further cutting part5 with teeth 6. The further tubular part 3 and the further cuttingsection 5 are indeed designed as a continuous curve (ring).

The centre axis of the cutting section is denoted by reference numeral14 while the centre axis of the further cutting section is denoted byreference numeral 13. These centre axes are at an angle α ofapproximately 135°.

The tubular part 2 is provided with a thickening 7 near its free edge.

Both the tubular part 2 and the further tube part 3 taper, preferablyconically, in the direction of the respective cutting section 4 and 5,respectively, in order to facilitate the release of the core, which wascut using the latter, and handling of the device.

The device according to the present invention is preferably made ofplastic.

FIG. 2 shows a first example of an application of the present invention.Reference numeral 10 denotes a head of lettuce from which the entirecore is to be removed. To this end, the further cutting section 5 ispressed into the heart of the head, as can be seen in FIG. 2 a. Then,the further cutting section is removed.

This is followed by the removal of the core, as shown in FIG. 2 b. Thecore is denoted by reference numeral 12 and a circular opening appearsto have been made in the lettuce, which is now ready for consumption.

In cases where the user does not immediately want to eat the entire headof lettuce, the operation of the device according to FIG. 3 issignificant. In this case, the cutting section 4 is pressed into thehead 20, as shown in FIG. 3 a. Then, the head of lettuce 20 is divideddiametrically, which may be carried out after the device 1 according tothe invention has been removed. However, it is also possible to do thiswhen the device according to the invention is still present, with thethickened edge 7 providing a guide for the knife.

This then results in the situation shown in FIG. 3 b, in which one halfof the head of lettuce has not been affected and the other half of thehead of lettuce, denoted by reference numeral 22, has had the relevantcore 21 removed.

After reading the above description, those skilled in the art willimmediately be able to think of variants which fall within the scope ofthe appended claims. It should be understood that exclusive rights aresought for the variants which are described in the subclaims independentof the main claim.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A device for removing the core of a plant,comprising a tubular part which is provided with an approximatelycircular cutting section at one free end and a handle section at theother free end, wherein the tubular part is provided with a lateralopening which extends up to the cutting section which comprises a partof a ring, wherein said handle section comprises a further cuttingsection and said cutting section is designed as a handle for saidfurther cutting section.
 11. The device according to claim 10, whereinthe lateral opening is designed such that the cutting section issemicircular.
 12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the centreaxis of said further cutting section is at an angle of 90°-160° to thecentre axis of said cutting section.
 13. The device according to claim12, wherein said angle is approximately 135°.
 14. The device accordingto claim 10, wherein the further cutting section is a circular cuttingsection.
 15. The device according to claim 11, wherein the furthercutting section is a circular cutting section.
 16. The device accordingto claim 12, wherein the further cutting section is a circular cuttingsection.
 17. The device according to claim 13, wherein the furthercutting section is a circular cutting section.
 18. The device accordingto claim 10, wherein the cutting section comprises teeth.
 19. The deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein the radius of the circle of said cuttingsection is 20-30 mm.
 20. The device according to claim 19, wherein theradius is approximately 25 mm.
 21. A method for removing at least aportion of the core of a plant, comprising: placing the plant on acarrier; inserting a cutting section of a device for cutting andremoving the at least a portion of the core of the plant, wherein thedevice comprises a tubular part which is provided with an approximatelycircular cutting section at one free end and a handle section at theother free end, wherein the tubular part is provided with a lateralopening which extends up to the cutting section which comprises a partof a ring, wherein said handle section comprises a further cuttingsection and said cutting section is designed as a handle for saidfurther cutting section; and separating the plant after the cut corepart has been removed.